Governor's nephew shot by brother of rival

CEBU, Philippines - A nephew of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was injured after he was allegedly shot by the brother of Dumanjug mayoralty candidate Efren “Gun-gun” Gica.

 The incident reportedly happened dawn yesterday during a benefit dance in Barangay Ilaya, Dumanjug.

Lou Oliver Garcia, 32, married, a resident of barangay Lo-oc, sustained a gunshot wound on his left arm and bruises on his face. He is currently confined at Chong Hua Hospital.

Lou is a volunteer worker at the Capitol. The suspect, identified as Wado Gica, is a resident of Barangay Sima in Dumanjug.

Garcia’s brother, Nelson, ran and won against Gica in this year’s elections.

Police said the incident started when Lou’s cousin, Fulton Francis Riconalla, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman of Barangay Tapon, attended the benefit dance at a gym in Barangay Ilaya. The dance was organized by the SK.

In the middle of the dance at about 2am, Gica reportedly appeared and allegedly slapped and boxed Riconalla. This led Riconalla running out of the gym where he bumped into Lou.

Lou reportedly tried to calm Riconalla down, but Wado reportedly appeared and fired shots, hitting Lou on his left arm.

Lou was rushed to the Barili District Hospital, but was subsequently transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City. Wado reportedly fled right after the incident. 

In an interview, Lou said he was already sleeping at that time when someone went to his house and informed him that his cousin was getting mauled at the gym by Garcia.

Lou said he immediately went to the gym and even chanced upon Gica who also allegedly hit him when he asked what was going on.

“Wa pa gani ko kahuman sa akong storya iya nakong gisukmag,” Garcia said.

While he was allegedly being pushed outside the gym, Lou said he saw Gica slap Riconalla, which prompted him to confront the mayoralty bet. This reportedly resulted to a heated argument until Wado arrived and fired the shots.

Lou said it was the first shot that hit him, but he was able to evade the second one.

After firing the shots, Wado still allegedly punched him on the face.

Lou said the Gica’s were made at him for removing the latter’s campaign materials. Lou, however, vehemently denied the allegations.

At the Provincial Police Office, Sr. Supt. Erson Digal already instructed Dumanjug police chief Sr. Insp. Rodrigo Giangan to conduct a hot pursuit operation on the suspects. He also ordered Sr. Insp. Rubin Cuizon, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Division and Management Branch (PIDMB) to assist in the investigation.

“Hinungaw nalang ni nga insidente sa kadaogan sa side sa Garcia didto sa Dumanjug,”

Gica and Wado remained at large as of yesterday, Digal said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)